LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) is the leading organisation delivering more sustainable food and farming. We work with farmers, the food industry, scientists and consumers, to inspire and enable sustainable farming that is prosperous, enriches the environment and engages local communities.

Investment in LEAF Marque certification is a real commitment to the whole food chain, providing you, the producer, with a genuine commercial advantage in the demanding premium and assured food markets.

LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) is the leading organisation delivering more sustainable food and farming. We work with farmers, the food industry, scientists and consumers, to inspire and enable sustainable farming that is prosperous, enriches the environment and engages local communities.

Welcome to myLEAF

Bottom Farm

The Farrington family has been farming in Northamptonshire for four generations - managed by father & son, Robert and Duncan Farrington. Bottom Farm is an all arable enterprise growing wheat, rapeseed and spring beans.

Additionally, Farrington's Mellow Yellow cold pressed rapeseed oil range is produced on the farm, giving a genuine field to plate view of food production. Bottom Farm engages in several environmental measures, from tree and hedge planting, to establishment of wildflower areas. Adopting modern farming technology, whilst being sympathetic to the environment, are both key to an integrated farming approach to create a long term sustainable business.

The Farm

Bottom Farm is an all arable family farm running to around 730 acres near the village of Hargrave in Northamptonshire. Also home to Farrington's Mellow Yellow range of cold presses rapeseed oil and products.

Crops for food

Winter wheat, spring wheat, spring barley, rapeseed and spring beans are the crops grown. Wheat is grown with local markets in mind, as we are ideally located near to several millers and end users. The farm is a member of Camgrain grain co-operative where the milling wheat is sent. The farm's rapeseed is used on farm for the production of cold pressed rapeseed oil. Whilst beans help in creating a healthy rotation, and are grown for premium food export markets. In addition to the main crops, we grow cover and companion crops to help improve soil fertility. By following a simple rotation, we are able to minimise the build-up of pests and diseases as well as keep the soil in good heart. Integrated farming is all about good husbandry – doing the right thing for the right reasons. We use non-inversion cultivation techniques and increasingly relying on direct drilling of crops to improve the structure of the soil and reduce costs.

Energy saving

We are always looking at ways to reduce our overall energy consumption. Biomass has been used in the past. Both wind turbines and solar panels have been considered, but our site and electricity supply has not allowed us to proceed on such technologies

Conservation

We are always mindful of the effect of our farming practices on the farm’s wildlife. We manage hedges sensitively to provide food and habitat for insects, birds and small mammals. We support environmental initiatives, and have over the years carried out the following as examples: Hedge and tree planting; formation of beetle banks; establishment of wild bird crops; wildflower and nectar areas. We have had advice from the RSPB to help increase numbers of bird species. We have had a number of nesting lapwings on the farm which are particularly rare for this area, erected owl boxes and have even rescued and returned to the wild a Long eared owl.

Visits

This is our home and all of us at Bottom Farm are passionate about improving its wildlife and landscape value as well as make a living. Come and see for yourself how we are putting Integrated Farm Management into practice.

About LEAF Demonstration Farms

LEAF Demonstration Farms are commercial farms, which show the beneficial practices of Integrated Farm Management (IFM) to a broad range of audiences, through organised visits. They communicate an understanding of IFM in order to encourage uptake by farmers, support from the industry and political awareness of sustainable food and farming.